Methods and compositions of biocontrol of plant pathogens

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises methods and composition for control of plant pathogens. Isolated bacteria, deposited with ATCC under the Budapest Treaty, are effective to control plant pathogens.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/661,708, filed Jul. 27, 2017, which is aContinuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No.13/954,506, filed Jul. 30, 2013, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/677,371, filed Jul. 30, 2012, andincorporates the disclosure of these applications by reference. To theextent that the present disclosure conflicts with the referencedapplications, however, the present disclosure is to be given priority.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods and compositions comprisingisolated bacteria, particularly Bacillus, which are useful forbiocontrol for plants.

BACKGROUND

Application of chemical compounds to control plant pathogens has hadquite a few adverse consequences for natural environments and humanhealth. Biological control agents are desired to avoid or remediatethese adverse effects. Biological control agents, such asmicroorganisms, may confer plant disease control by suppressing diseaseincidence and/or reducing the severity of symptoms caused by thepathogens.

Effective biological control of plant diseases with epiphytic microbeshas been used with numerous phyllosphere- and rhizosphere-inhabitingorganisms. Foliar biological control agents have included yeast andfilamentous fungi, as well as bacteria; including gram negative speciessuch as Erwinia sp. and Pseudomonas sp., and gram positive organismssuch as Bacillus sp. It is thought that biological disease control isattributed to direct antagonism against the pathogen such as byproduction of antibiotics or hydrolytic enzymes or through competitionfor nutrients, though other mechanisms such as the induction of systemicresistance responses within the plant have also been attributed tobiocontrol agents.

What is needed are compositions comprising biological control agents,such as bacteria, and methods for preventing and/or reducing plantdisease by affecting plant pathogen activity and effect on the plants.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for treatingplants, particularly compositions comprising isolated Bacillus, eitheras cells or spores or both, deposited with ATCC under the BudapestTreaty. The present invention comprises isolated bacillus organisms,referred to herein as biocontrol agents, and methods of using suchbiocontrol agents.

The present invention comprises isolated bacillus bacteria depositedwith the ATCC under the Budapest Treaty and includes an isolatedBacillus megaterium, referred to by Applicants as isolate number 86,having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12845; an isolated Paenibacillus polymyxa,referred to by Applicants as isolate number 2, having ATCC Accession No.PTA-12841, an isolated Bacillus vallismortis, referred to by Applicantsas isolate number 82, having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12844 an isolatedBacillus subtilis spizizenii, referred to by Applicants as isolatenumber 3, having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12842, and an isolated Bacillusamyloliquefaciens, referred to by Applicants as isolate number 81,having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12843.

A biocontrol agent of the present invention, comprising one or more ofthe selected, isolated bacteria disclosed herein, is useful in methodsof protecting plants against disease or damage by plant pathogens. Amethod comprises applying a biocontrol agent to plants, plant seeds, ormedia or soil surrounding plants under conditions effective providedisease protection to plants or plants produced from the contacted plantseeds.

The present invention comprises a method of enhancing plant growth. Amethod for enhancing plant growth comprises applying a biocontrol agentto plants, plants seeds, or media or soil surrounding plants underconditions effective to enhance growth in the plants or plants producedfrom the plant seeds.

Biocontrol agents of the present invention are useful in horticulture,aquaculture, aeroculture, hydroponic culture, agriculture and all typesof plant growing conditions to protect plants from a variety of plantbacterial, fungal, and viral diseases. The compositions and methods ofthe present invention are effective against plant pathogens.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the lettuce drop severity for S. minor.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the lettuce drop severity for S. sclerotiorum.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the percent lettuce drop control for 11treatments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention comprises compositions comprising one or moreisolated bacteria, deposited and disclosed herein, and methods of makingand using such compositions. Compositions of the present inventioncomprise compositions comprising one or more of an isolated Bacillus,deposited under the Budapest Treaty and having ATCC Accession No.PTA-12845; having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12841; having ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-12844; having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12842; or having ATCCAccession No. PTA-12843, or combinations thereof. Methods of the presentinvention comprise isolating a bacteria from a source material, methodsof using one or more isolated bacteria or compositions comprising one ormore isolated bacteria, such as one or more Bacillus having AccessionNos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843. Methodsof the present invention comprise modulating the effects ofmicroorganisms on plants, seeds or plants grown from such seeds bycontacting the plants, seeds or plants grown from contacted seeds with abiocontrol composition comprising one or more isolated bacteria, such asone or more bacillus organisms having Accession Nos. PTA-12845,PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843.

The Bacillus and Paenibacillus strains disclosed herein were depositedwith the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), located at 10801University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110, USA, on Apr. 19, 2012.

Methods of the present invention comprise enhancing the growth ofplants, seeds or plants grown from such seeds by contacting the plants,seeds or plants grown from contacted seeds with a composition comprisingone or more isolated bacteria, such as one or more Bacillus havingAccession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843.One or more of the bacilli, in spore or non-spore form, having AccessionNos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843 isreferred to herein as a biocontrol agent or agents, and a compositioncomprising one or more biocontrol agents is referred to as a biocontrolcomposition.

A biocontrol composition of the present invention comprises one or moreisolated bacteria, such as one or more Bacillus having Accession Nos.PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843, wherein abiocontrol compositions comprises one or more of an isolated Bacillusmegaterium, referred to by Applicants as isolate number 86, having ATCCAccession No. PTA-12845; an isolated Paenibacillus polymyxa, referred toby Applicants as isolate number 2, having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12841,an isolated Bacillus vallismortis, referred to by Applicants as isolatenumber 82, having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12844 an isolated Bacillussubtilis spizizenii, referred to by Applicants as isolate number 3,having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12842, and an isolated Bacillusamyloliquefaciens, referred to by Applicants as isolate number 81,having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12843. A biocontrol composition comprisingone or more isolated bacteria, such as one or more Bacillus havingAccession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843,may further comprise one or more carriers, such as an agriculturalcarrier which is known in the art. A carrier may be a solid particle,such as clay, to which a biocontrol composition is adhered. A carriermay be a liquid, and it is contemplated that the bacteria are not usedwith a strong acid or strong base. A biocontrol composition comprisingone or more isolated bacteria, such as one or more Bacillus havingAccession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843,may further comprise biological or chemical compounds or agents.Biological or chemical compounds or agents may comprise a fertilizer, aninsecticide, a fungicide, a nematacide, or mixtures thereof. Abiocontrol composition comprising one or more isolated bacteria, such asone or more Bacillus having Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841,PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843 may further comprise bufferingagents, wetting agents, coating agents, abrading agents, clay,polysaccharides, or mixtures thereof. A biocontrol compositioncomprising one or more isolated bacteria, such as one or more Bacillushaving Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, orPTA-12843 may be combined with water, irrigation water, nutrient mediaor other liquids to provide a liquid composition. A biocontrolcomposition comprising one or more isolated bacteria, such as one ormore Bacillus having Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844,PTA-12842, or PTA-12843 may be combined with solids, such as soil, soilamendments, particles, potting soil, or other solids to provide a solidcomposition. A biocontrol composition comprising one or more isolatedbacteria, such as one or more Bacillus having Accession Nos. PTA-12845,PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843 may be encapsulated by,for example, polymeric materials including but not limited topolysaccharides, to provide an encapsulated formulation. Methods andcompositions for encapsulating bacteria, for example, alginatecompositions, are known in the art and are contemplated by the presentinvention. Encapsulated formulations of the present invention comprisinga biocontrol composition comprising one or more isolated bacteria, suchas one or more isolated Bacillus having Accession Nos. PTA-12845,PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843 may be combined withliquids or solids and provided to plants by contacting plants, seeds orplants grown from such seeds by contacting the plants, seeds or plantsgrown from contacted seeds, or by contacting the soil, media, liquid orstructures contacting the plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grownfrom contacted seeds. A biocontrol composition may be a liquid, solid,semi-solid or mixtures, admixtures, suspensions, or solutions thereof.

The present invention comprises an isolated Bacillus megaterium,referred to by Applicants as isolate number 86, having ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-12845; wherein Bacillus megaterium is rod-shaped gram positiveendospore-forming species of bacteria. Bacillus megaterium is one of thelargest eubacteria found in the soil and is able to survive in extremeconditions such as desert environments due to the spore it forms.Bacillus megaterium produces penicillin amylase used for makingpenicillin, and it is considered non-pathogenic saprophyte capable ofrecycling organic material in the soil. The prokaryotic cell is motileand is an aerobe.

The present invention comprises an isolated Paenibacillus polymyxa,referred to by Applicants as isolate number 2, having ATCC Accession No.PTA-12841, wherein Paenibacillus polymyxa is a gram-positive bacterium.Paenibacillus polymyxa vegetative state microorganisms are generally 1.8to 2.2 μm in length and 0.6 to 0.8 μm in width. Colonies are mucous,slimy and tend to spread. Paenibacillus polymyxa bacteria generallyaerobes and are capable of nitrogen fixation under anaerobic conditions.Paenibacillus polymyxa form biofilms in the rhizosphere around the roottips. This bacterium produces polymyxin lipopeptide againstgram-negative bacteria. Paenibacillus polymyxa can withstand thermalresistance and are stable against acids as low as pH 2.0, and alkalihigh as pH 9.0. Endospores have longitudinal surfaces ridges.Paenibacillus polymyxa degrade pectin and plant polysaccharides. Thebacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa is most effective in harsh and poorconditions.

The present invention comprises an isolated Bacillus vallismortis,referred to by Applicants as isolate number 82, having ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-12844. Bacillus vallismortis is a gram positive bacterium.Bacillus vallismortis vegetative cells are bacilli that are generally0.8 to 1.0 μm wide and 2.0 to 4.0 μm long and occur singly and in shortchains. Bacillus vallismortis cells are smooth and circular. The optimumgrowth temperature ranges from 28° C. to 30° C., with a maximum andminimum growth temperatures, respectfully, of 50° C. and 5 to 10° C.Bacillus vallismortis is motile, aerobic and growth occurs generally ata pH of 5.7. Bacillus vallismortis endospore released by the mother cellsurvives a heat survival screen at a concentration of a million cellsper milliliter. Pigmentation can be observed after 4 days of incubationat 31° C.

The present invention comprises an isolated Bacillus subtilisspizizenii, referred to by Applicants as isolate number 3, having ATCCAccession No. PTA-12842, wherein Bacillus subtilis is a gram positivecatalase positive bacterium commonly found in the soil. Bacillussubtilis spizizenii is rod shaped and has the ability to form a toughendospore allowing the bacterium to tolerate extreme environmentalconditions. Bacillus subtilis spizizenii is an aerobe and is generallynot considered a human pathogen nor is it toxigenic like some othermembers of the genus. Bacillus subtilis spizizenii is generally 1.1 μmto 1.5 μm wide and generally 2.0 μm to 6.0 μm long. This bacterium maybe found living in dead organic matter. Bacillus subtilis spizizeniioptimum growth temperatures are between 30° C. and 37° C. Bacillussubtilis spizizenii growth characteristic forms tan colors and slightlypigments. Growth of this bacterium occurs in a pH slightly neutral 6.5to 7.0. The cell wall is rigid and composed of peptidoglycan polymersmade mostly of sugars and amino acids. Bacillus subtilis spizizeniisecretes enzymes amylase and protease.

The present invention comprises an isolated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,referred to by Applicants as isolate number 81, having ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-12843 wherein Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a gram positive,catalase positive aerobic rod-shaped, motile bacteria. Bacillusamyloliquefaciens forms a strong endospore for use when conditions arenot favorable and can be easily dispersed. Bacillus amyloliquefaciensranges in size generally from 0.7 μm to 0.9 μm in width and generally1.8 μm to 3.0 μm in length. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens optimaltemperatures for growth are 30° C. to 40° C. Generally, no growth occursbelow 15° C. and above 50° C. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is an aerobe,however, in unfavorable conditions Bacillus amyloliquefaciens cansurvive and thrive in anaerobic environments. Active cells can reproducewithin a pH range of 5.5 to 9.0. The strain produces liquefying amylasewhich is used in the hydrolysis of starch. The strain may also producebacteriocins with bactericidal activity that inhibits the growth ofpathogenic bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.

The present invention comprises plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plantsor plant parts from plants grown from contacted seeds that have beencontacted by a biocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent asdescribed herein and at least a portion of the biocontrol composition oran isolated biocontrol agent is associated with the plant. Such plantparts have been contacted by a biocontrol composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent as described herein and at least a portion of thebiocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent is associatedwith the plant part. Such seeds have been contacted by a biocontrolcomposition or an isolated biocontrol agent as described herein and atleast a portion of the biocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrolagent is associated with the seeds. Plants grown from seeds contactedwith a biocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent asdescribed herein or plant parts from such plants are also contemplatedby the present invention, and such plants may or may not have at least aportion of a biocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent asdescribed herein associated with the plant.

A method for isolating a biocontrol agent comprises selecting for andisolating a bacterial isolate from a humic-containing soil, such asleonardite, or mixture of clay soils, or mixtures of clay soils andleonardite, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,729,and related applications. Once a desirable naturally occurring soil orsoil combination is obtained, the soil or soil combination is subjectedto the extraction process described by U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/725,729, which is herein incorporated in its entirety. Clay soils,mixtures of clay soils, or mixtures of clay soil(s) and leonardite arepreferred in the practice of the invention. One reason such soilcombinations are preferred is that such soils can be high in the mineralelements. A step in determining whether a clay soil or leonardite isacceptable as a source material is to determine the amount of arsenic,lead, mercury, and cadmium present in the source material soil, aslittle to no toxic elements are desired. Source material soil forcomposition of the present invention may or may not comprise one or allof the rare earth elements. For example, a lanthanum concentration of atleast eighteen ppm and a scandium concentration of at least three andseven-tenths ppm may be found in a source material soil. Concentrationsof promethium and gadolinium may also be found. Source material soil forcomposition of the present invention may or may not comprise at leastten rare earth elements, at least twelve, or more rare earth elementsand optionally include lanthanum and scandium. Once leonardite or a claysoil or clay and leonardite combination is provided or is combined, thesource material soil is subjected to the extraction process as taught byU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,729.

In general, the extraction of the source material soil uses thefollowing steps. Water, typically purified using known methods such asreverse osmosis, is added to citric acid and the source material soil ina mixing tank. The amount of citric acid (or of phosphoric acid or otheredible acid(s)) or combinations thereof, may be in the range of 0.25% to7.5% of the weight of water utilized, but typically is in the range of1.0% to 2.0%. The water, citric acid and source material soil, form aslurry and the slurry is gently agitated (for example, with a bladeslowly rotating at from one to ten RPM) for about an hour, although theagitation time can vary as desired. The slurry from the tank is directedinto a settling tank to permit particulates to settle downwardly out ofthe slurry. The slurry is maintained in the settling tank for anydesired length of time, in the range of about one to ten days. As thelength of time that the slurry is maintained in the settling tankincreases, the amount of liquid that can be drawn out of the tank andsent to a cooling tank or concentrator increases and the amount ofsolids that have settled to the bottom of the tank increases. Additivescan be used to facilitate the settling of solids from slurry. After theslurry has resided in settling tank for the desired period of time,liquid is drawn out of the tank to a cooling tank, or directly to theconcentrator. The solids on the bottom of tank are the material fromwhich isolated bacteria of the present invention are isolated.

The solids are moist and spread on bacterial growth plates, such asnutrient media, PDA and other media known to those of skill in the art.Colonies were selected and a pure culture was obtained. The isolatedbacteria were tested for activities such as production of enzymes, andantifungal properties, such as are known to those skilled in the art.

A biocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent of the presentinvention is useful in methods of imparting to plants protection againstplant pathogens. A method involves applying a biocontrol compositioncomprising one or more isolated bacteria, such as one or more bacteriahaving Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, orPTA-12843 or an isolated biocontrol agent comprising a bacteria havingAccession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843to plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds,and/or or by contacting the soil, media, liquid or structures contactingthe plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds,under conditions effective to impart disease protection to the plants,plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds.

Methods of the present invention for imparting pathogen protection toplants may protect plants against infection or the effects of a widevariety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Forexample, plants can be protected against infection by or effects fromthe growth of fungi including, but not limited to, Fusarium oxysporum,Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium monilforme, Cochliobolus sativus,Collectotrichum graminicola, Stagonospora nodorum, Stagonospora avenae,Stenocarpella maydis, Sclerotinia minor, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum,Sclerotinia sp., Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, and other plantpathogenic fungi. For example, plants can be protected against infectionby or effects from the growth of Phytophthora, a genus of plant-damagingOomycetes (water molds). For example, plants can be protected againstinfection by or effects from the growth of bacterial plant pathogens onthe plants or a systemic infection by bacterial plant pathogens. Forexample, plants can be protected against infection by or effects fromthe growth of viral plant pathogens on the plants or a systemicinfection by viral plant pathogens. Pathogens of plants are known, andfurther examples of such pathogens are disclosed herein.

In methods of the present invention, plants, plant parts, seeds and/orplants grown from contacted seeds and/or media, soil or structurescontacting the plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown fromcontacted seeds are contacted with a biocontrol composition as disclosedherein. Contacting or applying methods may include, without limitation,applying compositions to soil or contacting one or more surfaces orportion(s) of a surface of a plant, plant part, seed and/or plant growncontacted seeds with a biocontrol composition comprising one or moreisolated bacteria, such as one or more Bacillus having Accession Nos.PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843. The contactingor applying may be by any means, such as by spraying, sprinkling,irrigating, adding to water or other liquids provided to plants, addingas a solid, dry product, for example, by spreading, or tilling into thesoil. Contacting may comprise painting or applying onto surfaces ofstructures that contact plants including but not limited to, pots,containers, shipping containers, storage containers, field instrumentssuch as hoes, trowels, cutting implements, and/or shoes, gloves, and/orclothing worn by persons contacting plants.

A method of protecting plants against plant pathogens comprising,contacting plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contactedseeds, media, soil or structures contacting the plants, plant parts,seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds with a compositioncomprising a biocontrol agent comprising one or more isolated Bacillushaving Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, orPTA-12843 or a biocontrol agent comprising isolated Bacillus havingAccession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843,under conditions effective to protect the plants, plant parts, seedsand/or plants grown from contacted seeds against plant pathogens.

Conditions effective to protect the plants, plant parts, seeds and/orplants grown from contacted seeds include, but are not limited to,contacting at least one plant at one or more points in its growth cycleand providing an effective amount of a biocontrol composition or anisolated biocontrol agent as described herein to modulate, reduce,prevent, or ameliorate an infection by a plant pathogen. The contactingmay occur one time at one point in the growth cycle, or may occur morethan one time at one point in the growth cycle, or may occur one time atmultiple points in the growth cycle, or may occur more than one time atmore than one point in the growth cycle of a plant. A seed may becontacted such that at least a portion of a seed, such as a portion ofthe surface of the seed, is covered with an effective amount of abiocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent as describedherein. The biocontrol composition or isolated biocontrol agent may beadhered to all or a portion of the surface of a seed, for example, byallowing a liquid composition of a biocontrol composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent as described herein to dry on the seed, or bypretreating the seed with agents that aid in adherence of the biocontrolcomposition or an isolated biocontrol agent as described herein. Suchagents may include starches, glues, or other known compositions ormolecules that aid in adherence. A biocontrol composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent as described herein may be combined with agents thataid in adherence and then applied to a seed. As contemplated herein,seed includes, but is not limited to seeds, stalks, canes, nuts, fruits,tubers, and rhizomes. A biocontrol composition or isolated biocontrolagent may be adhered to all or a portion of the surface of a flower, forexample, by allowing a liquid composition of a biocontrol composition oran isolated biocontrol agent as described herein to dry on the flower,or by pretreating the flower with agents that aid in adherence of thebiocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent as describedherein.

Conditions effective to protect the plants, plant parts, seeds and/orplants grown from contacted seeds may comprise injection into plants,plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds, injectioninto soil or media that surrounds or contacts the plants, plant parts,seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds, or application to thesurface of soil or media that surrounds or contacts the plants, plantparts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds.

Methods disclosed herein may be used with plants, seeds, fruits or plantparts from a plant that is a food crop; a turf grass; a flowering plant,bush or tree; a fruit-bearing plant or vegetable; a household plant; anursery plant; a landscape plant; a plant tissue culture, or a biomassplant. For example, the plant or seed contacted is a monocot or a dicot,including but not limited to alfalfa, rice, wheat, barley, rye, cotton,sunflower, peanut, corn, potato, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory,lettuce, endive, cabbage, Brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip,cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant,pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple,banana, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple,soybean, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, or sugarcane, ornamental plants,including but not limited to, Arabidopsis thaliana, Saintpaulia,Petunia, Pelargonium, Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia), Chrysanthemum,Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation), and Zinnia.

A method of the present invention comprises enhancing plant growth byapplying a biocontrol composition of the present invention to plants,plant seeds, and soil surrounding plants under conditions effective toenhance growth of the plants or plants resulting from the treated seeds.For example, when pathogens are reduced or eliminated, plant growth isenhanced. The enhancement of plant growth may begin from seeds or laterin the life of a plant. For example, plant growth as used herein maycomprise greater yield, increased quantity of seeds produced, increasedpercentage of seeds germinated, increased plant size, greater biomass,more and bigger fruit, earlier fruit coloration, and earlier fruit andplant maturation, and longer lasting production time by the plant. Forexample, early germination and early maturation permit crops to be grownin areas where short growing seasons would otherwise preclude theirgrowth in that locale. Increased percentage of seed germination resultsin improved crop stands and more efficient seed use. Greater yield,increased size, and enhanced biomass production allow greater productionfrom a given plot of land.

Methods of the present invention can be carried out through a variety ofprocedures when all or part of the plant is treated, including leaves,stems, roots, plant products (e.g., grain, fruit, forage, crop debris),propagules (e.g., cuttings), tissue cultures, cells, or other knownplant parts or surfaces. Suitable application methods include high orlow pressure spraying, drenching, and injection. For example, whentreating plant seeds, in accordance with the present invention, abiocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent as describedherein can be applied by low or high pressure spraying, coating,immersion, or injection. A biocontrol composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent as described herein may also be applied topathogen-infested crop stubble in order to reduce the inoculum availableto infect a subsequent crop, especially under conservation tillageagriculture. Other suitable application procedures can be envisioned bythose skilled in the art. Once treated with a biocontrol composition oran isolated biocontrol agent as described herein, the seeds can beplanted in natural or artificial soil and cultivated using conventionalprocedures to produce plants. After plants have been propagated fromseeds treated in accordance with the present invention, the plants maybe treated with one or more applications of a biocontrol composition oran isolated biocontrol agent as described herein to impart diseaseprotection to plants and/or to enhance plant growth.

A biocontrol composition or an isolated biocontrol agent as describedherein can be applied to plants or plant seeds in accordance with thepresent invention alone or in a mixture with other materials.Alternatively, the biocontrol agent can be applied separately to plantswith other materials being applied at different times.

A composition suitable for treating plants or plant seeds in accordancewith the present invention may comprise a carrier. Suitable carriersinclude water, aqueous solutions, slurries, solids (e.g., peat, wheat,bran, vermiculite, and pasteurized soil) or dry powders. In thisembodiment, the composition contains 106 to 108 colony forming units ofthe biocontrol agent per milliliter of carrier. Compositions maycomprise additives including fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide,nematacide, and mixtures thereof. Suitable fertilizers include(NH4)2NO3. An example of a suitable insecticide is Malathion. Usefulfungicides include Captan. Other additives may comprise bufferingagents, wetting agents, coating agents, and abrading agents. Thesematerials can be used to facilitate the process of the presentinvention. In addition, a biocontrol composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent as described herein can be applied to plant seeds withother conventional seed formulation and treatment materials, includingclays and polysaccharides.

The present invention comprises methods for contacting plants, plantparts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds, to modulate theeffects of microorganisms, particularly pathogenic microorganisms, onthe plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds.For example, the effects of one or more microorganisms may be reduced,eliminated or prevented by contacting plants, plant parts, seeds and/orplants grown from contacted seeds with a biocontrol agent composition oran isolated biocontrol agent of the present invention. Plant disease maybe said to be prevented when it is known that a field or other growingsite or media is infested with one or more microorganisms that cause apathological condition in a plant, and when a plant is grown in thatfield or site or media and the plant does not show the signs ofinfection by the microorganisms known to be present in the field, siteor media, the plant disease is prevented. Studies with biocontrolcompositions of the present invention have shown that after treatmentwith a biocontrol composition comprising at least one of the isolatedbacteria biocontrol agents disclosed herein, the composition aidsbeneficial microorganisms that are present on the plants or in the soil.For example, after treatment with a biocontrol composition, pathogenmicroorganisms cannot be found, but there is an increased number of thebiocontrol composition bacteria. Testing for microorganisms, such astesting for the presence of the bacillus microorganisms by heat survivaltest followed by selective media for bacillus, is found by sampling forbacteria under the soil surface and at the root zone, for example, 1-4inches in the subsoil. Surface samples are too exposed and airbornespores are likely found.

In an embodiment, the plant is a monocot. For example, the monocot plantis in the gramineae and cereal groups. Non-limiting exemplary monocotspecies include grains, tropical fruits and flowers, banana, maize,rice, barley, duckweed, gladiolus, sugar cane, pineapples, dates,onions, pineapple, rice, sorghum, turfgrass and wheat. In anotherembodiment, the plant is a dicot. For example, the dicot plant isselected from the group consisting of Anacardiaceae (e.g., cashews,pistachios), Asteraceae (e.g., asters and all the other compositeflowers), Brassicaceae (e.g., cabbage, turnip, and other mustards),Cactaceae (e.g., cacti), Cucurbitaceae (e.g., watermelon, squashes),Euphorbiaceae (e. g., cassaya (manioc)), Fabaceae (e.g., beans and allthe other legumes), Fagaceae (e.g., oaks), Geraniales (e.g., Geranium),Juglandaceae (e.g., pecans), Linaceae (e.g., flax), Malvaceae (e.g.,cotton), Oleaceae (e.g., olives, ashes, lilacs), Rosaceae (e.g., roses,apples, peaches, strawberries, almonds), Rubiaceae (e.g., coffee),Rutaceae (e.g., oranges and other citrus fruits), Solanaceae (e.g.,potato, tomato, tobacco), Theaceae (e.g., tea), and Vitaceae (e.g.,grapes).

An aspect of the present invention comprises microorganisms that affectplants, such as an infection of a plant wherein the infection is causedby any kind of infectious (i.e., biotic) agents that affect plants.Examples of such agents/pathogens include but are not limited to anagent or pathogen such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Examples ofspecific pathogens to be treated using the compositions and methods ofthe present invention include but are not limited to pathogens selectedfrom the group consisting of Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Black sigatoka),Cladosporium caryigenum (pecan scab), Glomerella cingulata(Anthracnose), Cercospora beticola (Cercospora leaf spot), Botrytiscinerea, Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae (Fusarium Crown rot),Pseudomonas syringe (angular leaf spot) and Erwinia caratovora(bacterial vascular necrosis).

Examples of bacteria that may cause infections treatable or preventableby compositions of the present invention include Pseudomonas species,particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorecens, andPseudomonas syringe (angular necrosis), Pantoua agglomorans, Erwiniatracheiphilia, leaf spot). Other bacteria that may cause infectionstreatable or preventable by compositions of the present inventioninclude Erwinia caratovora (bacterial vascular and Zanthomonasaxanopodis. Depending on the species of bacteria and the tissueinfected, the bacteria produce and release enzymes that degrade cellwalls, growth regulators that alter the plants' normal growth, toxinsthat degrade cell membranes and/or complex sugars that plug waterconducting tissue. A general classification of phytopathogenicprokaryotes are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Kingdom: Procaryotae Bacteria - Have cell membrane and cell walland no nuclear membrane Division: Bacteria - Gram-positive Class:Proteabacteria - Mostly single celled bacteria.  Family:Enterobacteriaceae Genus: Erwinia, causing fire blight of pear andapple,    Stewart's wilt in corn, and soft rot of fleshy vegetables.Pantoea, causing    wilt of corn. Serratia, S. marcescens, aphloem-inhabiting bacterium    causing yellow vine disease of cucurbits.Sphingomonas, causing brown    spot of yellow Spanish melon fruit. Family: Pseudomonadaceae Genus: Acidovorax, causing leaf spots in corn,   orchids and watermelon. Pseudomonas, causing numerous leaf spots,   blights, vascular wilts, soft rots, cankers, and galls. Ralstonia,causing    wilts of solanaceous crops. Rhizobacter, causing thebacterial gall of    carrots. Rhizomonas, causing the corky root rot oflettuce. Xanthomonas,    causing numerous leaf spots, fruit spots,blights of annual and perennial    plants, vascular wilts and citruscanker. Xylophilus, causing the bacterial    necrosis and canker ofgrapevines.  Family: Rhizobiaceae Genus: Agrobacterium, the cause ofcrown gall disease.    Rhizobium, the cause of nitrogen - fixing rootnodules in legumes.  Family: still unnamed Genus: Xylella,xylem-inhabiting, causing leaf scorch and    dieback disease on treesand vines. Candidatus liberobacter, Phloem    inhabiting, causing citrusgreening disease. Unnamed, laticifer-inhabiting causing    bunchy topdisease of papaya. Division: Firmicutes - Gram-positive bacteria. Class: Firmibacteria - Mostly single celled bacteria. Genus: Bacillus,causing rot    of tubers, seeds, and seedlings and white stripe ofwheat. Clostridium,    causing rot of stored tubers and leaves andwetwood of elm and poplar.  Class: Thallobacteria - Branching bacteria.Genus: Arthrobacter, causing bacterial    blight of holly, thought to bethe cause of Douglas-fir bacterial gall.    Clavibacter, causingbacterial wilts in alfalfa, potato, and tomato.    Curtobacterium,causing wilt in beans and other plants. Leifsonia, causing    ratoonstunting of sugarcane. Rhodococcus, causing fasciation of sweet    pea.Streptomyces, causing common potato scab.

More plant pathogenic bacteria are described in Robert W. Jackson, PlantPathogenic Bacteria: Genomics and Molecular Biology, published byHorizon Scientific Press, 2009, ISBN 1904455379, 9781904455370; SamuelS. Gnanamanickam, Plant-Associated Bacteria, published by Springer,2007, ISBN 1402045379, 9781402045370; Martin Dworkin et al., TheProkaryotes: a handbook on the biology of bacteria, Published bySpringer, 2006, ISBN 0387254927, 9780387254920; George N. Agrios, Plantpathology, published by Academic Press, 2005, ISBN 0120445654,9780120445653; and David W. Parry, Plant pathology in agriculture,published by CUP Archive, 1990, ISBN 0521368901, 9780521368902.

Numerous classes of plant pathogenic fungi, including oomycetes,ascomycetes, and basidiomycetes, may cause infections treatable orpreventable by compositions of the present invention in a plant.Examples of fungi that may cause infections treatable or preventable bycompositions of the present invention in a plant include Cercosporabeticola (Cercospora leaf spot), Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Blacksigatoka), Glomerella cingulate (Anthracnose) and Cladosporiumcaryigenum (pecan scab). In general, fungal plant diseases can beclassified into two types: those caused by soilborne fungi and thosecaused by airborne fungi, Soilborne fungi cause some of the mostwidespread and serious plant diseases, such as root and stem rot causedby Fusarium spp. and root rot caused by Phytophthora spp. For example,Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotiana, a soilborne oomycete found, inmany tobacco growing regions worldwide, causes black shank, a highlydestructive root and stem rot disease of many varieties of cultivatedtobacco. Since airborne fungi can be spread long distances by wind, theycan cause devastating losses, particularly in crops which are grown overlarge regions. A number of pathogens have caused widespread epidemics ina variety of crops. Diseases caused by airborne fungi are stem rust(Puccinia graminis) on wheat, corn smut (Ustilago maydis) on corn, andlate blight disease (Phytophthora infestans) on potato and tomato.Plasmopara viticola is an airborne oomycete that causes downy mildewdisease on grape vines. The blue mold fungus (Peronospora tabacina) hascaused catastrophic losses in tobacco crops, particularly in the UnitedStates and Cuba. Most of these fungal diseases are difficult to combat,and farmers and growers must use a combination of practices, such assanitary measures, resistant cultivars, and effective fungicide againstsuch diseases. Billions of dollars are spent annually for chemicalcontrol of plant-pathogenic fungi. As a result, there is today a realneed for new, more effective and safe means to control plant-pathogenicfungi, particularly oomycete, which are responsible for major crop loss.Oomycetes is a class of Oomycota, which is a phylum of filamentousprotists, containing over around 70 genera and more than 800 knownspecies (J. W. Deacon Modern mycology Edition: 3, Published byWiley-Blackwell, 1997 ISBN 0632030771, 9780632030774).

“Oomycota” means “egg fungi”, referring to the oversize oogonia whichhouse the female gametes (eggs). Despite the name and their superficialappearance, oomycetes are not fungi. They are unicellular heterokonts,physically resembling fungi. Oomycetes are commonly known as water molds(or water moulds) or downy mildew. They are microscopic, absorptiveorganisms that reproduce both sexually and asexually and are called itsthallus). Those skilled in the art understand the distinctions ofoomycetes.

The Phytophthora group is a genus that causes diseases such as dieback,late blight in potatoes, sudden oak death, rhododendron root rot, andink disease in the American Chestnut.

The Pythium group is even more prevalent than Phytophythora andindividual species have larger host ranges, usually causing less damage.Pythium damping off is a very common problem in greenhouses where theorganism kills newly emerged seedlings. Mycoparasitic members of thisgroup (e.g. P. oligandrum) parasitize other oomycetes and fungi, andhave been employed as biocontrol agents. One Pythium species, Pythiuminsidiosum is also known to infect mammals.

A third group of oomycetes is the downy mildews, which are easilyidentifiable by the appearance white “mildew” on leaf surfaces.

Oomycete-caused plant diseases include, but are not limited to, grapedowny mildew (caused by Plasmopara viticola) and potato late blight(caused by Phytophthora infestans) and oomycete infestation of Arctotis(caused by Bremia lactucae), Chenopodium murale (caused by Peronosporafarinosa), cucurbits and cucumbers (caused by Pseudoperonosporacubensis), grasses and grains (caused by Sclerospora graminicola),lettuce (caused by Bremia lactucae), onion (caused by Peronosporadestructor), alfalfa (caused by Peronospora trifoliorum), lima bean(caused by Phytophthora phaseoli), sunflower (caused by Plasmoparahalstedii), carrot (caused by Plasmopara nivea, also called Plasmoparacrustosa), hops (caused by Pseudoperonospora humuli), crucifers (causedby Peronospora parasitica), spinach (caused by Peronospora effusa), beet(caused by Peronospora schachtii, also called Peronospora farinosa),peas (caused by Peronospora viciae), rose (caused by Peronosporasparsa), poppy (caused by Peronospora arborescens), tobacco (caused byPeronospora hyoscami), and violet (caused by Peronospora violae).

Plant viruses are affecting plants. Examples of viruses that may causeinfections treatable or preventable by compositions of the presentinvention in a plant include cucumber mosaic, tobacco mosaic, and barleyyellow dwarf virus. Plant viruses are obligate intracellular parasitesthat do not have the molecular machinery to replicate without a host.Those skilled in the art can recognize and identify diseases caused byplant viruses. Non-limiting exemplary plant viruses species are Alfalfamosaic virus (Alfamovirus), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus(Trichovirus), Apple scar skin viroid (Viroids), Arabis mosaic virus(Nepovirus), Barley mild mosaic virus (Bymovirus), Barley stripe mosaicvirus (Hordeivirus), Barley yellow mosaic virus (Bymovirus), Bean commonmosaic virus (Potyvirus), Bean yellow mosaic virus (Potyvirus), Beetnecrotic yellow vein virus (Furovirus), Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus(Potyvirus), Bean common mosaic virus (Potyvirus), Broad bean wilt virus(Fabavirus), Butterbur mosaic virus (Carlavirus), Carnation mottle virus(Carmovirus), Carnation vein mottle virus (Potyvirus), Cauliflowermosaic virus (Caulimovirus), Chrysanthemum mild mottle virus(Cucumovirus), Tomato aspermy virus (Cucumovirus), Chrysanthemum stuntviroid (Viroids), Citrus mosaic virus, Citrus tristeza virus(Closterovirus), Clover yellow vein virus (Potyvirus), Cocksfoot mottlevirus (Sobemovirus), Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (Tobamovirus),Cucumber mosaic virus (Cucumovirus), Cycas necrotic stunt virus(Nepovirus), Dasheen mosaic virus (Potyvirus), Grapevine Algerian latentvirus (Tombusvirus), Konjac mosaic virus (Potyvirus), Melon necroticspot virus (Carmovirus), Mulberry ringspot virus (Nepovirus), Narcissusmosaic virus (Potexvirus), Plant viruses are viruses affecting plants.Examples of viruses that may cause Odontoglossum ringspot virus(Tobamovirus), Papaya ringspot virus (Potyvirus), Peach latent mosaicviroid, Peanut mottle virus (Potyvirus), Peanut stripe virus(Potyvirus), Bean common mosaic virus (Potyvirus), Peanut stunt virus(Cucumovirus), Potato virus A (Potyvirus), Potato virus M (Carlavirus),Potato virus S (Carlavirus), Potato virus X (Potexvirus), Potato virus Y(Potyvirus), Prune dwarf virus (Ilarvirus), Prunus necrotic ringspotvirus (Ilarvirus), Radish mosaic virus (Comovirus), Rice black streakeddwarf virus (Fijivirus), Rice dwarf virus (Reovirus), Rice grassy stuntvirus (Tenuivirus), Rice stripe virus (Tenuivirus), Rice tungrospherical virus (Sequivirus), Rice waika virus, Rice tungro sphericalvirus (Sequivirus), Ryegrass mottle virus, Satsuma dwarf virus(Nepovirus), Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (Furovirus), Southern beanmosaic virus (Sobemovirus), Soybean mosaic virus (Potyvirus), Soybeanstunt virus (Cucumovirus), Cucumber mosaic virus (Cucumovirus), Tobaccomosaic virus (Tobamovirus), Tobacco mosaic virus (Tobamovirus), Tomatomosaic virus (Tobamovirus), Tobacco necrosis virus (Necrovirus), Tobaccorattle virus (Tobravirus), Tobacco ringspot virus (Nepovirus), Tomatoaspermy virus (Cucumovirus), Tomato black ring virus (Nepovirus), Tomatomosaic virus (Tobamovirus), Tomato ringspot virus (Nepovirus), Tomatospotted wilt virus (Tospovirus), Turnip mosaic virus (Potyvirus),Watermelon mosaic virus 1 (Potyvirus), Papaya ringspot virus(Potyvirus), Watermelon mosaic virus 2 (Potyvirus), Wheat yellow mosaicvirus (Bymovirus), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (Potyvirus). More plantviruses have been described in F. C. Bawden, Plant Viruses and VirusDiseases, Publisher Biotech Books, 2002, ISBN 8176220647, 9788176220644,which is incorporated herein by its entirety for all purposes.

Methods of the present invention may comprise contacting plants, plantparts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds, and/or a media,water, liquid, soil or other solid structure associated with the plants,plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds. An aspectof the present invention comprises contacting or applying to the foliageof the plant a composition comprising a one or more isolated bacteria,such as one or more Bacillus having Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841,PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843, or one or more isolated Bacillushaving Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844, PTA-12842, orPTA-12843, for example for use as a biocontrol agent.

A biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent may beapplied to the foliage of the plant by methods known in the art. Forexample, a biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agentmay be applied aerially. A biocontrol agent composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent may be sprayed from above the plants, for example froman airplane. A concentration of a biocontrol agent composition or anisolated biocontrol agent applied aerially is 10.sup.3-10.sup.12 cfu(“colony forming units”)/ml, 10.sup.4-10.sup.10 cfu/ml,10.sup.5-10.sup.9 cfu/ml, or 10.sup.6-10.sup.8 cfu/ml. A biocontrolagent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent can be applied at awide range of volume/acre of plants treated. For example, a biocontrolagent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent may be applied at1-100 gallons/acre, 2-50 gallons/acre, 5-10 gallons/acre, 6-8gallons/acre, or 2-10 gallons/acre.

A biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent can alsobe applied from the ground, for example by any agricultural sprayequipment, including any sprayer, either manual or automatic, that canbe used to apply a biocontrol agent composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent to plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown fromcontacted seeds, for example, the foliage of a plant. A concentration ofa biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent appliedfrom the ground is 10.sup.3-10.sup.12 cfu (“colony forming units”)/ml,10.sup.4-10.sup.10 cfu/ml, 10.sup.5-10.sup.9 cfu/ml, or10.sup.6-10.sup.8 cfu/ml. A biocontrol agent composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent can be applied from the ground at a wide range ofvolume/acre of plants treated. For example, a biocontrol agentcomposition or an isolated biocontrol agent may be applied at 10-500gallons/acre, 10-100 gallons/acre, or 5-20 gallons/acre.

A biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent of thepresent invention may be applied to plants, plant parts, seeds and/orplants grown from contacted seeds as a spray-dried formulation suspendedin an aqueous solution. An aspect of the present invention comprises abiocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent comprisingfreshly grown cells. An aspect of the present invention comprises abiocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent comprisingspores of bacteria having Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841,PTA-12844, PTA-12842, or PTA-12843. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, a biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrolagent is formulated with a carrier to aid dilution and dispersion, andsuch a carrier may include various types of clay such as attaclay.

Methods and compositions of the present invention comprising abiocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent may furthercomprise one or more additional biological or chemical agents, which maybe included in a biocontrol agent composition or may comprise anisolated biocontrol agent, or may be applied to plants, plant parts,seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds prior to, or media, soilor structures contacting the plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plantsgrown from contacted seeds, simultaneously with, sequentially or afterapplications of one or more compositions of the present invention.

The present invention also provides methods of applying compositions ofthe present invention to a plant further comprising applying one or morebiological or chemical compounds or control agents, referred to hereinas a second control agent, which is not to be seen as limiting thecomposition or method to comprise only a second agent, but includes oneor more control agents. In an embodiment, a second biological orchemical control agent is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, a plantactivating agent, a pesticide, combinations of these or other knownbiological or chemical compounds or control agents used for plants andplant disease. The amounts used in making a composition comprising abiocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent and asecond control agent can be determined by those skilled in art who canuse known quantities of each as are commonly applied, or can utilizetest plots or tests known for determining quantities of applications toplants. Such experimentation is not undue and is within the skills ofthose in the plant industries.

Non limiting exemplary bactericides include, active chlorine (i.e.,hypochlorites, chloramines, dichloroisocyanurate andtrichloroisocyanurate, wet chlorine, chlorine dioxide etc.), activeoxygen (peroxides, such as peracetic acid, potassium persulfate, sodiumperborate, sodium percarbonate and urea perhydrate), iodine (iodpovidone(povidone-iodine, Betadine), Lugol's solution, iodine tincture,iodinated nonionic surfactants), concentrated alcohols (mainly ethanol,1-propanol, called also n-propanol and 2-propanol, called isopropanoland mixtures thereof; further, 2-phenoxyethanol and 2-phenoxypropanolsare used), phenolic substances (such as phenol (also called “carbolicacid”), cresols (called “Lysole” in combination with liquid potassiumsoaps), halogenated (chlorinated, brominated) phenols, such ashexachlorophene, triclosan, trichlorophenol, tribromophenol,pentachlorophenol, Dibromol and salts thereof), cationic surfactants,such as some quaternary ammonium cations (such as benzalkonium chloride,cetyl trimethylammonium bromide or chloride, didecyldimethyl ammoniumchloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, benzethonium chloride) and others,non-quaternary compounds, such as chlorhexidine, glucoprotamine,octenidine dihydrochloride etc.), strong oxidizers, such as ozone andpermanganate solutions; heavy metals and their salts, such as colloidalsilver, silver nitrate, mercury chloride, phenylmercury salts, coppersulfate, copper oxide-chloride etc.

Commonly used fungicides include, but are not limited to, benomyl, TPTH,propiconazole, tetraconazole, benimidazoles, triazoles, strobilurins,carboxamides, sulfananilides, phenylsulfamides, azoles, nitrogenousheterocycles, dicarboximides, phthalimides, carbamates, thiocarbamates,formaidines, antibiotics, aromatics, guanidines, organochlorinecompounds, organometallics, organophosphorus compounds, nitrophenylcompounds, sulfur heterocyclyl compounds, ureas, inorganics, and others(e.g., benzamacril, carvone, essential oil extract from plants, cedarleaf oil, neem oil, chloropicrin, DBCP, drazoxolon, fenaminosulf,metzoxolon, oxolinic acid, spiroxamine, cymoxanil, metrafenone.Prohexadione calcium, thicyofen, dithane, chlorothalanil, dichlorophen,dicloran, nitrothal-isopropyl, bronopol, diphenylamine, mildiomycin,oxin-copper, cyflufenamide (e.g.,N-(cyclopropylmethoxyimino-(6-difluoromethoxy-2,3-difluorophenyl)-methyl)-2-phenylaceta-mide), UK-2A (antibioticisolated from treptomyces sp. 517-O.sub.2).

Plant activating agents are natural or synthetic substances that canstimulate, maintain, or enhance plant resistance to biotic and/orabiotic stressors/pressures, which include, but are not limited to,acibenzolar, probenazole, isotianil, salicyclic acid, azelaic acid,hymexazol, brassinolide, forchlorfenuron, benzothiadiazole (e.g.,ACTIGARD® 50WG), microbes or elicitors derived from microbes, More plantactivating agents are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,849,576, 5,950,361,6,884,759, 5,554,576, 6,100,092, 6,207,882, 6,355,860, 5,241,296,6,369,296, 5,527,783, and 6,987,130. Microbes, or chemical compounds andpeptides/proteins (e.g., elicitors) derived from microbes, can also beused as plant activating agents. Non-limiting exemplary elicitors are:branched-.beta.-glucans, chitin oligomers, pectolytic enzymes, elicitoractivity independent from enzyme activity (e.g. endoxylanase, elicitins,PaNie), avr gene products (e.g. AVR4, AVR9), viral proteins (e.g. vialcoat protein, Harpins), flagellin, protein or peptide toxin (e.g.victorin), glycoproteins, glycopeptide fragments of invertase,syringolids, Nod factors (lipochitooligo-saccharides), FACs (fatty acidamino acid conjugates), ergosterol, bacterial toxins (e.g. coronatine),and sphinganine analogue mycotoxins (e.g. fumonisin B1). More elicitorsare described in Howe et al., Plant Immunity to Insect Herbivores,Annual Review of Plant Biology, 2008, vol. 59, pp. 41-66; Stergiopoulos,Fungal Effector Proteins Annual Review of Phytopathology, 2009, vol.547, pp. 233-263; and Bent et al., Elicitors, Effectors, and R Genes:The New Paragigm and a Lifetime Supply of Questions, Annual Review ofPlant Biology, 2007, vol. 45, pp. 399-436. Biological control agents areliving organisms which can be used to eliminate or regulate thepopulation of other living organisms. Biological control agents can be,for example, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, antiviral agents,and insecticides. Examples of biological control agents include, but arenot limited to, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pumulis, Bacillusthuringiensis (Bt), Bacillus liquefacians, numerous species ofPseudomonas bacteria, Seratia marcesans, and Pantoua agglomerans.

Chemical control agents are chemical substances which can be used toeliminate or regulate the population of living organisms. Chemicalcontrol agents can be, for example, antibacterial agents, antifungalagents, antiviral agents, and insecticides. Examples of chemical controlagents include, but are not limited to, triphenyltin hydroxide (TPTH,SuperTin, Griffin LLC), propiconazole (Tilt, Syngenta Crop Protection,Inc) and tetraconazole (Eminent, Sipeam Agro USA Inc.), benomyl,Strobilurin fungicides including Azoxystrobilurin (Syngenta),Trifloxstrobilurin (Bayer), Pyracstrobilurin (BASF) and Chlorthalonilfungicides.

In an aspect of the invention, a biocontrol agent composition or anisolated biocontrol agent is applied in conjunction with the applicationof a second biological or chemical control agent. A biocontrol agentcomposition or an isolated biocontrol agent may be mixed with the secondbiological or chemical agent and applied simultaneously to the plants,plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds. Abiocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrol agent and asecond biological or chemical control agent may be applied separatelybut simultaneously to the plant. A biocontrol agent composition or anisolated biocontrol agent may be applied after the second biological orchemical control agent has been applied to the plants, plant parts,seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds, but during the time thebiological or chemical control agent is acting as a control agent. Asecond biological or chemical control agent may be applied after theapplication of a biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrolagent to plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contactedseeds.

In an aspect, a biocontrol agent composition or an isolated biocontrolagent may be applied sequentially with a second biological or chemicalcontrol agent. For example, a biocontrol agent composition or anisolated biocontrol agent may be applied to the plants, plant parts,seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds. This sequentialapplication may be repeated, as may other methods disclosed herein.

The present invention comprises plants, plant parts, seeds and/or plantsgrown from such seeds, that have been contacted by a biocontrol agentcomposition or an isolated biocontrol agent as described herein. Suchplants, plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds maybe provided in methods that are normally used for providing plants,plant parts, seeds and/or plants grown from contacted seeds. Forexample, a nursery of young plants may be treated by contacting theplants' foliage, stems, stalks and/or roots with a biocontrol agentcomposition or an isolated biocontrol agent, allowing the composition toadhere to the contacted portion(s) of the plant, and then one or morecontacted plants are provided to growers or other users of the youngplants. Similar methods may be used for providing plant parts, seeds orplants grown from contacted seeds. A contacted seed is a seed that hasbeen contacted by a biocontrol agent composition or an isolatedbiocontrol agent of the present invention.

It is an aspect of the invention to provide a plant to which abiocontrol agent has been applied. A plant to which a biocontrol agenthas been applied is also referred to as a plant “treated” with abiocontrol agent. In an embodiment, the biocontrol agent is applied tothe foliage of the plant. In an embodiment, the biocontrol agent isapplied to the soil around the plant, or directly to the roots of theplant. In an embodiment, the phyllosphere of the plant is colonized bythe biocontrol agent. In an embodiment the plant treated with abiocontrol agent is a banana, a curcubit, a pecan, a sugar beet, or ageranium.

Definitions

As used herein, the term “plant” refers to any living organism belongingto the kingdom Plantae (i.e., any genus/species in the Plant Kingdom).This includes familiar organisms such as but not limited to trees,herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses and green algae. The termrefers to both monocotyledonous plants, also called monocots, anddicotyledonous plants, also called dicots. Examples of particular plantsinclude but are not limited to corn, potatoes, roses, apple trees,sunflowers, wheat, rice, bananas, tomatoes, opo, pumpkins, squash,lettuce, cabbage, oak trees, guzmania, geraniums, hibiscus, clematis,poinsettias, sugarcane, taro, duck weed, pine trees, Kentucky bluegrass, zoysia, coconut trees, brassica leafy vegetables (e.g. broccoli,broccoli raab, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage (Bok Choy andNapa), cauliflower, cavalo, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens,rape greens, and other brassica leafy vegetable crops), bulb vegetables(e.g. garlic, leek, onion (dry bulb, green, and Welch), shallot, andother bulb vegetable crops), citrus fruits (e.g. grapefruit, lemon,lime, orange, tangerine, citrus hybrids, pummelo, and other citrus fruitcrops), cucurbit vegetables (e.g. cucumber, citron melon, edible gourds,gherkin, muskmelons (including hybrids and/or cultivars of cucumismelons), water-melon, cantaloupe, and other cucurbit vegetable crops),fruiting vegetables (including eggplant, ground cherry, pepino, pepper,tomato, tomatillo, and other fruiting vegetable crops), grape, leafyvegetables (e.g. romaine), root/tuber and corm vegetables (e.g. potato),and tree nuts (almond, pecan, pistachio, and walnut), berries (e.g.,tomatos, barberries, currants, elderberryies, gooseberries,honeysuckles, mayapples, nannyberries, Oregon-grapes, see-buckthorns,hackberries, bearberries, lingonberries, strawberries, sea grapes,lackberries, cloudberries, loganberries, raspberries, salmonberries,thimbleberries, and wineberries), cereal crops (e.g., corn, rice, wheat,barley, sorghum, millets, oats, ryes, triticales, buckwheats, fonio, andquinoa), pome fruit (e.g., apples, pears), stone fruits (e.g., coffees,jujubes, mangos, olives, coconuts, oil palms, pistachios, almonds,apricots, cherries, damsons, nectarines, peaches and plums), vine (e.g.,table grapes, wine grapes), fibber crops (e.g. hemp, cotton),ornamentals, and the like. For a more complete list of representativecrop plants see, for example, Glossary of Crop Science Terms: III,Nomenclature, Common and Scientific Names, Crop Science Society ofAmerica, July 1992, which is herein incorporated in its entirety.

As used herein, the term “plant part” refers to a section or portion ofa plant, whether a natural section, such as leaves, stalk, stem, trunk,root, rootlet, branch, branchlet, tuber, rhizome, or a portion such asone or more surfaces of a plant, a disc, cutting, rooted portion, leafedportion, plant protoplast, plant spore, plant shoot, plant tissueculture or plant tissue culture cells.

As used herein, the term “pesticide” refers to composition comprisingone or more chemical substances or biological organisms capable ofkilling or inhibiting a pest. Pests include, but are not limited to,insects, pathogens (e.g., bacterium, fungi, viruses), weeds, molluscs,birds, mammals, fish, nematodes and microbes that compete with humans,e.g., for food. Pesticides can be classified into algicides, avicides,bactericides, fungicides, herbicides, insectcides, miticides/acaricides,molluscicides, nematicides, rodenticides, virucides, et al.

As used herein, the term “plant part” refers to any part of a plantincluding but not limited to the shoot, root, stem, seeds, stipules,leaves, petals, flowers, ovules, bracts, branches, petioles, internodes,bark, pubescence, tillers, rhizomes, fronds, blades, pollen, stamen, andthe like. The two main parts of plants grown in some sort of media, suchas soil, are often referred to as the “above-ground” part, also oftenreferred to as the “shoots”, and the “below-ground” part, also oftenreferred to as the “roots”. For a more comprehensive list of plant partssee, for example, James W. Perry and David Morton (1998) Photo Atlas forBotany, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 141 pages, which is hereinincorporated in its entirety.

As used herein, the term “fungicide” refers to a composition comprisingone or more chemical substances or biological organisms capable ofkilling or inhibiting both true fungi and their spores as well asoomycete pathogens, usually in a selective way. Fungicides are used bothin agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals. Fungicide canbe either contact or systemic. In agriculture, a contact fungicide killsfungi by direct contact; a systemic fungicide spreads internally throughthe plant, thereby killing the fungia.

As used herein, the term “bactericide” refers to a compositioncomprising one or more chemical substances or biological organismscapable of killing or inhibiting bacteria, usually in a selective way.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Method of Growing the Isolated Bacteria

Bacterial colonies were isolated from the solid material remaining afterthe extraction process performed on humic-containing soil, as describedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,729. Pure cultures wereobtained by plating the isolated bacteria on nutrient agar or otherselective agar. Bacterial isolates of the present were grown insufficient numbers and are allowed to sporulate by reducing thenutrients in the media. The spores are stored. Spores were then admixedwith compositions for treating plants.

Example 2: Method of Treating Photophthora capsici in Production ofJalapeno Peppers

A trial to assess the protection of jalapeno peppers from phtopterainfection by application of a biocontrol composition of the presentinvention was conducted. The biocontrol composition comprised isolatedbacteria having Accession Nos. PTA-12845, PTA-12841, PTA-12844,PTA-12842 and PTA-12843 at a concentration of 1.times.106 each, in aliquid organic fertilizer sold as Humega by Global Organics, Goodyear,Ariz. The trial was conducted as a strip designed trial using foursingle bed replications for each treatment, where the beds were 13.33ft. wide by 150 feet in length. Each bed contained two lines of pepperplants. All applications were by a manifold attached to the in-fielddrip irrigation tape during a normal irrigation day. Treatments followedthe rates and timing shown in the Treatment application Table shownbelow. The Grower Standard UTC was the control plot, which was nottreated. The Ridomil Gold SL and Fungiphite were standard treatmentsused by growers and includes ridomil and a fungicide, Ridomil may bepurchased from Novartis or Syngenta.

Full replicate counts of plants that were infected, dying or dead fromPhotophthora capsici were made at each evaluation. There wereapproximately 300 plants per replicate. Percent plant loss was based onthe total number of plants infected or dying of date of analysis,divided by the total number of plants present on the day of panting, toequal a percent loss for that rating date. The plants were inspected forany application phototoxic effects after the initial application.

Average cumulative plant mortality due to Photophthora capsici wascalculated. As can be seen, the biocontrol composition gave significantprotection against P. capsici over the Control (untreated check) and thegrower standard on most rating dates. By the end of the trial, theamount of mortality due to P. capsici for the biocontrol compositiontreated plants was almost half that seen in the Control (untreatedcheck) and numerically much better than the grower standard program. Nophytotoxic effects were seen in any of the treatments.

All data rated as significant was done using the New Duncan's MultipleTest Range at a 95% confidence level. It appears that the biocontrolcomposition provided superior reduction of death to pepper plants andprotected against the effects of infection by Photophthora capsici.

TABLE 2 Application Plant # Treatment Rate Description Mortality 1Grower Standard UTC 16.1a CONTROL 2 Ridomil Gold SL 1 qt/A 1 week post13.2ab plant 3 weeks later 3 Biocontrol composition 1 week post 9.5bplant 3 weeks later Means followed by the same letter do notsignificantly differ. (P = 0.05, Duncan's New MRT)

As the chart shows, a side by side comparison of growers standards,other fungicides compared to a biocontrol composition of the presentinvention comprising five isolates. The biocontrol compositions waseffective against Phytophthora capsici.

Most fungicides currently used are not environmentally friendly and arevery expensive. This study showed that the fungicides were not thateffective against the pathogen, whereas the biocontrol composition was.

Example 3: Method of Treating Sclerotinia Drop on Lettuce

Sclerotinia disease develops when soil is wet and in temperatures from10.degree. C. to 25.degree. C., optimally at 20.degree. C. This diseaseis usually managed by destroying or inactivating the sclerotinia byfungicides, soil flooding and/or solarization.

This field trial was conducted on lettuce seeded on raised beds indouble rows, 30 cm apart. At seeding, sclerotinia produced in thelaboratory was spread on the surface of each 7.6 m long plot between therows of lettuce seed and mixed into the top 5 cm of soil. There was 2100spores/mL of Sclerotinia minor, 800 spores/mL of S. sclerotiorum perplot. Certain pathogens like S. minor and S. sclerotiorum producespores. The test compositions were added at seeding applications. Thefield was irrigated by sprinkler irrigation to germinate seed, thenfurrow irrigated for remainder of trial. Subsequent applications of testcompositions were at designated times. At crop maturity, the number deadplants per plot due to Sclerotinia infection was recorded.

TABLE 3 Test Composition Active Ingredient Source ApplicationsActinovate Streptomyces Natural At seeding, after lydicus Industriesthinning Contans Coniothyrium SipcamAdvan At seeding, after minitansthinning Endura Boscalid BASF At seeding, after thinning BiocontrolIsolated bacteria Inventors At seeding, +14 and Comp1 having Accessionand 28 days NoPTA-12844 Biocontrol Isolated bacteria Inventors Atseeding, +14 and Comp2 having Accession and 28 days No. PTA-12841 No.PTA-12844, PTA-12843 Sil-Matrix Potassium silicate Certix USA Atseeding, +6 times SoilGuard Gliocladium virens Certis USA At seeding,after thinning Tenet Trichoderma SipcamAdvan At seeding, afterAsperellum, thinning T. gamsii

The lettuce drop severity for S. minor is shown in FIG. 1. Standardcount was 50 plants per plot. The lettuce drop severity for S.sclerotiorum is shown in FIG. 2. Percent lettuce drop control is shownin FIG. 3. When compared to EPA registered products, biocontrolcompositions of the present invention were cost effective forapplications and yields. This test also showed that biocontrolcompositions of the present invention was not disease specific in itseffectiveness in reducing pathogens and aiding in plant growth. Theother products used only treat this particular disease. Biocontrolcompositions of the present invention have broad spectrum activity.

Example 4: Treatment of Onions

This test involved adding a biocontrol composition of the presentinvention (comprising isolated bacteria having Accession No. PTA-12845,No. PTA-12841, No. PTA-12844, No. PTA-12842, No. PTA-12843 at1.times.106 spores/mL each, in a Humega liquid fertilizer, by GlobalOrganics, Goodyear, Az), to a conventional fertilizer program for onionsto reduce the incidence of Scerotinia sclerotorium infection in Redonion (Allium cepa). The Grower standard used their normal conventionalfertilizer program.

A mixture of 2.5 gallons (10 liters was mixed with 25 gallons (100liters) of water and applied to ¼ acres at 20 days after transplantthrough a drenching program. Frequency of the applications were everytwo weeks for four applications.

The total number of plants tested was 25,000 plants. The control areahad a percent of infestation of S. sclerotorium of over 70% in thecontrol field. The treated field had an infestation of S. sclerotoriumof 0.008%. The treated onions showed less damage than the untreatedonions.

1. A method of treating plant soil or media to reduce plant pathogens,comprising, contacting plant soil or media with an effective amount of acomposition comprising a carrier, an additive and a biocontrolcomposition, wherein the biocontrol composition consists of Bacillusmegaterium, having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12845; Paenibacillus polymyxa,having ATCC Accession No. PTA-12841; Bacillus vallismortis, having ATCCAccession No. PTA-12844; Bacillus subtilis spizizenii, having ATCCAccession No. PTA-12842; and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, having ATCCAccession No. PTA-12843, to reduce the effects of plant pathogens on aplant or seed grown in the plant soil or media.